Curved manicure or pedicure device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an improved manicure or pedicure device with one or more longitudinal curves. Said curves are designed to aid users produce a curved nail whilst reducing the skill, time, concentration, dexterity and rotation of the device and or nail required to perform the action. Further more the aesthetics and ergonomics of the manicure or pedicure device are also improved.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention is generally directed to manicure or pedicure.

Manicuring implements including conventional fingernail files and emery boards generally include a flat abrasive surface for filing purposes. Such nail files and emery boards generally include an abrasive paper laminated to a flat substrate made of wood, compressed paper, plastic, foam or the like. Also available in the prior art are flat metal nail files which include a knurled or scored surface which defines the abrasive surface.

When using nail files users predominantly try to produce a curved nail shape due to the natural shape of the finger or toe. Present this requires them to move and or rotate either the nail or the file as they file. Said actions require a high level of skill, increase the amount of time required to file a nail, require a high level of concentration and may result in repetitive strain injury (RSI) in professional manicurists. Further more as most users tend to be one hand dominant the nail shape may vary from one hand to another.

Prior art has proposes a number of different solutions to this problem including completely round files U.S. Pat. No. 2,225,567, flexible files with large amounts of foam and files having longitudinal cross sectional curves GB 778517. These however have either damaging effects on the users nail as they do not conform to the shape of the nail during file due to a lack of flexibility, have storage and aesthetic disadvantages or more specifically only permit use of one side of the file as in GB 778517.

Accordingly there is a need for a manicure device which removes the aforementioned disadvantages. Therefore these and other objectives are provided for by an improved manicure device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention outlines a variety of different embodiments of a laminate manicure or pedicure device, with one or more longitudinal curves as shown in FIGS. 1-2. Said curves are designed to aid users produce a curved nail shape without the problems mentioned above. The curved design also utilises the length of the file and allows directional filing of the nail, a method proven to reduce nail damage. Said laminate may include 1 or more layers of abrasive or buffer, on either the upper or under side; one of more flexible layers and or a support layer made from a variety of different materials.

The figures also show how the longitudinal curves may vary along the length of the file. Thus providing further benefits to the user including; different curves each specific for a particular nail, areas specifically designed for filing, buffing, polishing and shaping; a more aesthetic or individual shape; and an improved ergonomic shape to aid holding, reduce strain on users and allow improved access to specific parts of the nail. The latter can be challenging for fingers and toes due to either the shape and location of the nails, a lack of user dexterity or other extremities being in the way. This can be especially true for elderly users attempting to file their toe nails, which tend to be bunched close together and located in difficult positions to reach.

These and other features of the invention are further outlined in the following detailed description and accompanying illustrations.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 show various constructions of the improved manicure or pedicure device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 show a variety of longitudinal sections of the improved device.

FIG. 3 shows a construction of the improved manicure device with dimensional labels.

FIGS. 1-3 show a variety of possible longitudinal sectional shapes that the device may include. These illustrations do not include all possible forms and it should be noted that the device could have number of different curves, radii R or straight sections S. Said radii R may vary between 0 and 1000 mm and each straight section between 0.1 mm and 300 mm.

In a further embodiment the device may also be twisted along it length. Said twists may further improve the functioning of the device, specifically improving the ergonomics, aesthetics and functionality.

All the above designs may include 1 or more layers of flexible or compressible material to reduce damage to the nail during filing. This layer may be made from plastic or natural foam, card, wood or any other material with flexible characterises. The flexibility of the layer may alter along the length of the file; alternatively areas of the layer may have been removed to allow different levels of flexibility or greater contortion of the abrasive layer.

The upper and lower layer as outlined by the illustrations may be an abrasive of any level of coarseness, a buffer and or a polisher. The material and or coarseness of said upper and or lower layer might also vary longitudinally or transversally. For example the coarseness or material may vary along the length of the device.

The different shapes proposed above may be enabled by either a specifically shaped semi rigid support piece made from either plastic, card, sealant wood board or recycled material and or a layer of shaped foam made from either plastic, card, wood board or recycled material. Further more the support and flexibility could be provided by 1 piece of material. Said support and or flexible layer may be manufactured by a variety of methods none exclusively including extrusion, press moulding, hot press mounding or injection moulding.

In a preferred embodiment abrasive paper is bent to allow the creation of the longitudinal curves outlined above. In these instances a high stress is put on the abrasive paper. The abrasive may therefore be reinforced in some way, one such method may include reinforced tape being applied to the under surface of the abrasive paper in areas most likely to break.

As well as combining the aforementioned core inventions the invention may also include, but not exclusively, these further objectives:

A further object of the invention is to provide a mirror as part the manicure implement. A further object of the invention is to improve the filing by altering the level of coarseness of the grit on the manicuring tool, with the added possibility of making these levels variable on the same tool. The implement may have both smooth and coarse portions.

It is another object of the invention to have any degree of flexibility or 1 or more hinges. It is a further object of the invention to show its longevity using a colour change and/or an agent which comes off during the utilisation, such as, but not limited to particles which form a picture imprinted on the manicure tool.

Yet another object of the invention is that the implement could include an amount of a rheochromic material capable of changing colour if the user applies too much pressure during application of the implement, so to prevent damage to the nail and or cuticle. Still another object of the invention is to be able to produce the manicuring tool to any specific size or shape, such as but not limited to an asymmetrical design.

To minimise the effect of the device on the environment any part of the device may be made from recycled material. Yet another object of the invention is to incorporate a variety of novel features such as, but not limited to a sound chip embedded into the manicuring tool capable of presenting varied audible messages, a light emitting diode with memory chip, a light emitting diode which illuminates one or more fibre optic thread; or a single or multi-lens image projector capable of projecting a moving or holographic image.

The above description is intended to provide a representative example of the device defined in the claims. Changes may be made in the apparatus disclosed above without departing from the scope of the invention recited in the claims. All the description contained above and shown in the drawings shall be interpreted in an illustrative not limiting sense. For example, many different embodiments have been detailed; it will be appreciated that any of the embodiments of the invention may be applied in any combination with each other. Further more, while the device has been specific to nail filling, it will be appreciated that the invention may also be used for nail buffing, shaping and or polishing. 

1-33. (canceled)
 34. A manicure or pedicure device having a longitudinally curved abrasive nail treatment surface.
 35. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein there is at least one region of twist about a longitudinal axis.
 36. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the device comprises an elongated form having a first abrasive nail treatment surface on a first side and a second abrasive nail treatment surface on a second side.
 37. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein at least one longitudinally curved surface possesses a radius of curvature greater than 0 mm and less than 1000 mm.
 38. A manicure or pedicure device as claim 34, wherein the radius of curvature of a least one curved region differ at different positions along the longitudinal axis.
 39. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the different radii of curvature allow regions along the length that are substantially straight.
 40. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the varying radii of curvature allow regions curved in opposing directions, which may produce an asymmetric design.
 41. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein an abrasive paper is used, said abrasive paper may be reinforced.
 42. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the overall construction of the device is produced by laminating at least two layers together.
 43. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, comprising a rigid support piece or support layer, one or more layers of flexible or compressible material and one or more layers of abrasive.
 44. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 43, wherein the flexibility of the flexible layer may vary along the length of the device, further more areas of the flexible layer may be removed to allow different levels of flexibility or contortion.
 45. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 43, wherein the flexible layer is provided by shaped foam with cushioning properties.
 46. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 43, wherein the cushioning of the layer may vary along the length of the device.
 47. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 43, wherein the support piece or support layer and flexible layer or layers, are provided by one piece of material.
 48. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the material or coarseness of the upper or lower layer may vary longitudinally or transversally across the device.
 49. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the longevity of the device is indicated by a colour change and or an agent which comes off during utilisation, this may then form a picture imprinted on the device.
 50. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the device may change colour if the user provides too much pressure during application.
 51. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the device may provide a mirror.
 52. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the device contains a microchip, capable of presenting varied audible messages.
 53. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the device contains a light emitting diode; a memory chip; one or more fibre optic threads and a single or multi-lens image projector separately or together. 